Hi everyone
I am considering applying for HKU/ HKUST part-time MBA. But I have some concerns and would appreciate your advice regarding these aspects.
Before going on the discussion, I have to clarify one thing. I have no intention in offending or disrespecting either school or getting into argument with graduates from the two schools. I know HKU & HKUST are both very good business schools. I just want to find out if they can offend me what I am looking for.
Here are my questions.
Is HKU/HKUST part-time MBA helpful for getting a job in North America or Europe? I had my undergraduate in the states. Even though the economy in Asia is doing well, I still prefer (or I may say dream of) to live and work in the North American/ European. There was posts on different websites years ago saying that HKU & HKUST MBA are too Asia focused and that the two schools are not well known outside Asia.
If the program does not help get a job outside Asia, does it help get a higher salary job in HK/Asia? I am earning 30K HK$, am looking at 40K+ HK$.
Again there were many previous posts on different website saying that there was lack of diversity in both programs with Chinese/Asians being the predominate majority in class. Non-Asian was only about 10% or less in the class. I am more comfortable in a more diversified learning environment than one that is predominately Chinese/Asian culture. Some posts even said that HKUST students were very reluctant discussing the course work in English?. What is the true picture of the class diversity? From my perspective Chinese from Macau, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Canada and the US are not exactly the same but I would not call a class with students predominately from these backgrounds a class with diversity.
How is the teaching style of both programs? Again some posts years ago saying that the teaching/ communication in classes were traditionally one-way rather than two-ways, discussion with or raising question to the lecturer was not welcomed.
Again I do not mean to offend anybody or any university but I need to be careful in making my decision. 300,000+ HK$ is not a small amount of money. I have concerns after reading those previous posts. But I understand that the posts were years ago. I would appreciate any advice or comment that is updated.
I have 8 years of working experience in HK with 3 North American big banks/ fund houses. I had my undergrad degree with a University in the states. My expertise is in Data Management. I understand it would be difficult to switch from back office to front line. As long as I can get a better salary or have opportunity to work in North America/ Europe, I would be happy even if I have to stay at back office. I have speaking and writing ability in American English, intermediate Spanish (Castellano), and my native language is Cantonese. Although I don?t speak Mandarin but like most Cantonese I understand the Mandarin to a certain extend. May not be relevant but my social circle in HK is also mainly Hispanic and Europeans, I suppose that would help keeping my English and Spanish. At work, I needed to talk on phone very often with Sydney and London office; I suppose it also help prevent my English from getting too bad.

These are respected schools, so a part-time degree will be helpful. However, they don't have the recruiter relationships in North America. A North American MBA in HK, like Chicago, Kellogg, Iowa, Ivey, UNCC etc might be more helpful.

Diversity will be limited: it will reflect the workforce in Hong Kong, or the wider region in the case of regional programmes.

The class experience will reflect the cohort.

Thanks for the quick response Duncan. Let's say it does not enhance opportunity outside Asia, within Asia, would the degree get me a big salary increase after graduating?

It does that for almost all graduates, but there are no guarantees.